WAYNESBORO — A slow start, back to back wins and a losing streak all led to a memorable season finale for the Waynesboro Indians football team in 2012.

Like its season-ending win against James Buchanan two years ago that helped ease the pain of an 0-9 start and carried over to the following season, a 49-21 triumph against Big Spring on Nov. 2 helped take the sting away from a five-game skid during the past season and was a fitting sendoff to a dedicated group of seniors — who were sophomores in Scott Shacreaw’s first season as head coach of the team.

“I think going into the season we had very high expectations,” said Shacreaw, whose team finished 4-6 a year ago but could have easily been 6-4. “There were different dynamics that caused us to fall short of our goals for the season. I think there were some bright spots and there were also some areas where we didn’t perform as well as expected.”

“Anytime you have a rusher for over 1,000 yards at the high school level you are doing something right,” Shacreaw said. “This is a big testament to not only Johnnie but also the offensive line and the QB who make the reads to start the play.”

Waynesboro’s tendency to start slow was offset by their superior talent in games it won, but made things much worse against better teams.

“Some of the games we lost we were down by two scores before we began to put a drive together,” Shacreaw said. “There are plans to work on that for next season, but to spot any team in our division two scores is going to make your night much more difficult.”

Some notable highlights of the season, according to Shacreaw:

“Johnnie eclipsing 3,000 yards for his career was a huge accomplishment. He had a great career here at Waynesboro and I will be excited to watch him on the track this season.

“Ben Petrie had a great season both offensively and defensively. He was our most consistent wide receiver and created a number of turnovers for us on the defensive side of the ball.

“Andrew Paterno had a great year on both sides of the ball, but from the number of tackles he had as an interior defensive lineman, that shows his ability as a football player. That is not a glamorous position, but when you can get production out of an interior lineman like that, you are doing something right.

Page 2 of 4 - “I think there were a number of other great individual performances. Our senior class dia nice job of stepping up on many occasions this season. I certainly wish them the best.”

A recap of the season that was:

Aug. 31

East Pennsboro at Waynesboro

A new season brought with it a new starting opponent, and the arm of Syracuse-bound Austin Wilson was enough to counter the legs of Adgers in a 35-12 Panther victory.

Wilson completed just eight passes but two were touchdowns and he ended the night with 209 yards in the air as East Pennsboro built a 21-7 lead late in the second quarter.

Adgers was spectacular in the season opener, rushing for 174 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. His second score made it 21-12 but that’s all the scoring the Indians could muster on this night.

Sept. 7

Waynesboro at Chambersburg

In the renewal of a rivalry that began in 1919, the Trojans built a 16-0 lead with 4:42 left to play in the first quarter and steamrolled to a 47-0 non-league victory on the field turf at Trojan Stadium.

Sophomore quarterback Connor Fetterhoff had a better second game, completing eight passes for 68 yards. Waynesboro switched from a 4-3 to a 4-4 defense in the second half and had better success in keeping Chambersburg out of the end zone.

Sept. 14

New Oxford at Waynesboro

Adgers had another breakout game and the Indian defense smothered the Colonials offense all night en route to a 9-0 win.

Adgers provided all the points Waynesboro needed when he ran into the end zone from five yards and Jesse Smith kicked the extra point with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter.

The defense got in on the scoring when the Tribe sacked Anthony Lippy in the end zone for a safey with 3:50 left in the game. Waynesboro held the Colonials to 56 total yards on offense, including minus-5 in rushing on 19 attempts.

Adgers finished the game with 221 yards on 36 carries, by far his best output of the entire season.

Sept. 21

James Buchanan at Waynesboro

After falling behind 6-0 in just 19 seconds, the Indians got down to business. Backup quarterback Connor Fetterhoff ran for a 6-yard touchdown and Smith made the first of six extra points to give Waynesboro a 7-6 lead.

From there, the Tribe scored 20 points in the second quarter, 14 more in the third and capped the game off with another score in the fourth quarter on its way to a 48-20 victory in the first Mid-Penn Colonial Division game of the season.

Adgers rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns.

Senior Aaron Conrad started at quarterback and scored a touchdown to give the Indians a 41-20 lead with nine seconds to play in the third quarter. Conrad completed two passes to Ben Petrie for 70 yards in the game.

Page 3 of 4 - Sept. 28

Waynesboro at Gettysburg

Entering a very winnable game with a 2-2 record, the Indians didn’t get it done, losing 19-14 to the Warriors as a last-minute pass into the end zone fell incomplete.

Conrad cut into a double-digit deficit with a 17-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left in the game. Waynesboro was driving for what appeared to be the winning touchdown with a first and goal at the three. But the next two plays resulted in losses and a fourth down play with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game was unsuccessful.

Tribe defensive lineman gave his team a chance to win the game when he stripped the ball from a Warrior player and ran 20 yards to set up the Indians at the Gettysburg 21.

The loss was the first of five straight setbacks for Waynesboro.

Oct. 5

Waynesboro at Shippensburg

The Greyhounds broke open a close game with 21 second-half points en route to a 42-12 divisional win.

Two Shippensburg running backs surpassed 100 yards in the game and the Greyounds outgained Waynesboro 504-326.

Adgers broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run and Petrie hauled in a 60-yard TD pass from Conrad to make the score 21-12.

Oct. 12

Northern at Waynesboro

The Polar Bears spoiled Homecoming night for the Indians with a 45-7 rout.

Waynesboro’s lone score came late in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard TD pass from Nathan Toney to Nathan Eisenhauer.

The Tribe was held to just six first downs and 124 total yards.

Oct. 19

Waynesboro at West Perry

The Mustangs jumped out to a 21-0 lead at halftime and extended it to 35-0 by the end of the third quarter in a 35-7 victory.

Adgers’ 19-yard TD run with 4:45 to play in the game was Waynesboro’s only scoring in the game.

Eisenhauer caught two passes for 33 yards and Adgers rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries.

Oct. 26

Waynesboro at Greencastle-Antrim

Eisenhauer’s 17-yard pass from Conrad midway through the first quarter and Smith’s extra point tied the game.

That was as close as the Indians would get the rest of the game. The Blue Devils reeled off four unaswered touchdowns to take a 35-7 lead at halftime and went on to win 49-14.

Petrie snared a 31-yard TD pass from Conrad late in the third quarter to make it 35-14 after Smith kicked the extra point.

Adgers, who injured his ankle on the first play of the second quarter, reached the 1,000-yard plateau in the game. It was his second straight 1,000-yard season.

Nov. 2

Big Spring at Waynesboro

Page 4 of 4 - For a short time it seemed like deja vu. The Indians fell behind 14-6 to the Bulldogs and appeared headed toward another uphill battle in their season finale.

But the Tribe rolled past Big Spring 49-21 to finish the season with a win and close out a 3-7 campaign.

Petrie caught five passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Adgers finished his career with 104 yards and three TDs. Bricker sacked quarterback Isaiah Grier for a 13-yard loss on a fourth down play at the Indian 33 yard line.

Adgers and Eisenhauer each intercepted a pass.

Priority number one in 2013 is to find a replacement for a 3,000-yard rusher.

“Losing the majority of your offensive and defensive lines and your entire secondary will not be easy,” Shacreaw said. “As this group of seniors moves on to their next chapter, a new group of players gets its opportunity to step up. I look forward to the road ahead. I expect names to pop up next year that will be big contributors for us in years to come.

“This offseason we will be mending our training program to attack certain weaknesses that we saw over the year. We are going to really analyze our defensive plan and come back next season ready to compete.”